Beatrix and her hitherto unknown descendent Harry

Well, we are half way through our virtual vacation in Suffolk but we still have so much more to see, eat and experience. This morning's kippers and malted granary loaf was certainly an experience for kiddoes 1, 2 and 3 who were vociferously aghast at the idea of fish for breakfast!!!! Their complaints gave me additional enjoyment to this gustatory treat :)


I am fortified for the day ahead!

We started off the day at Bridge Cottage at Flatford Mill. This cottage is situated in the heart of Dedham Vale and houses an exhibition on John Constable who painted such famous pictures as the Haywaggon in this area. Much as I would have been happy to stay awhile and perhaps do one of their guided walks, it was not to the taste of three young children so we decided on a trip back to Lavenham - by now becoming gloriously familiar, almost homelike and a trip to Curiosity Corner - a specialist shop selling Steiff Teddy bears.

With three new furry friends added to our party we had the difficult choice to make as to how to spend the afternoon. We decided to nip to the corner shop (Translation: very small locally owned grocery store) and buy bread, cheese, pickle, fruit, crisps (Translation: chips) and some orange squash (Untranslatable) in order to have a picnic. No trip to England with hybrid English-American children would be complete without an English parent forcing aforementioned children to endure a cold, windy picnic in the open air, "Just like we had when I was a girl". They've got that T.Shirt now!

During the squabbling and bickering held during a traditional cold English picnic we had to decide between visiting Gainsborough's house in Sudbury and a National Trust property called Melford Hall, an Elizabethan House. Melford Hall had gardens for unrestricted running around and a tea room. It was the favorite hands down!

I am so glad that we bothered to find out about this place. It was brilliant! not only was it actually interesting and quirky and atmospheric but it really gave the kiddoes a feel for a family house that made up a bit of their historical and cultural heritage. Built in the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I was entertained here (the red headed queen with the white face!) and more interestingly for the kiddoes, Beatrix Potter visited here often as her relatives lived here. There is a room called the Beatrix Potter bedroom and all sorts of sketches she made of squirrels and of the old ponds, the inspiration for the Jeremy Fisher stories that Offspring #3 so loves.

Melford Hall by kind permission of The National Trust

Games of Hide and Seek and Tin Can Alley amongst the Beech trees and Yew Hedges, not to mention 'grass angels' in the soft English grass that harbors no stinging fire ants perfected the day. Terrific tea rooms and a satisfying gift shop made this a place that we will long remember. A perfect memory.

On the drive back to our home, The Swan, in Lavenham, a sleepy #2 Offspring was heard to murmur sleepily about the coincidence of Beatrix and Harry Potter both having the same last name. "Perhaps they are related?" she asked.

A Virtually Perfect Day

After a great night's sleep we all awoke virtually famished - if not actually! We grabbed our virtual Swan Breakfast menu and decided what to eat. The kiddoes decided on pancakes and toast - not just plain old white sandwich toast however but home baked toasted apricot and walnut granary bread - heaven! Personally I went for 'The Full Suffolk', local free-range pork sausage, smoked dry cured Suffolk bacon, Lane Farm black pudding, field mushrooms, tomatoes and free range Manor farm eggs. The menu is so delicious that I've already made a mental note of what to eat tomorrow for breakfast!

We have fun-packed day ahead of us! First stop is Colchester Castle. Colchester was the first capital of Roman Britain (not Londinium/modern London). There was a huge Temple of the Emperor Claudius here which was attacked and destroyed during the revolt of the Iceni Queen Boudicca. A terrific virtual tour of the castle and Roman remains follows for your delight and edification! I love the fact that there is a lot of hands-on activities here for children 1, 2 and 3 who could choose from trying on togas, handling real Roman artefacts, talking to historical character re-enactors and taking part in pottery or weaving workshops. So cool!

http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/castle/castle_vr.html

After a quick sandwich near the castle we headed off to Colchester Zoo to see the new Gelado Baboon baby and the endangered species Dragons of Komodo. Telu, the  Komodo Dragon on display was small but to be fair to him was only 3 years old. When fully grown he could be as long as 3 meters!!!

Today has been a huge success. Lots of kid-centered things to do, so to redress the balance we went shopping for Mummy at J & J Baker Antiques. Always wanted a Welsh dresser....wonder how I'm going to get it back?

Munnings Tea Rooms

To round off a perfect day we went to Munnings Tea Rooms in Lavenham for English afternoon tea. Now, this is not exactly a novelty for my kiddoes because I often bake and make tea but the idea of going 'out' to tea was the novelty factor. Wow - just as well we had done so much walking today! We had a huge pot of tea, scones with clotted cream, tea loaf and Yorkshire Curd Tart! SOOO delicious. The kiddoes drank Elderflower Cordial because they have never tried that before. What a treat! the atmosphere in Munnings reminded me of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books and every other novel tea room I ever read about.

To celebrate the feel good factor of English tea, here's my Mum's recipe for scones - they're deceptively simple but you must eat them on the same day that they are made - they don't keep well!

English Scones
8 oz Self raising flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 oz butter or margarine
2 oz dried fruit (optional)
1tblsp sugar (optional)
1 egg, beaten
3 fl oz milk

1) Sieve the flour and salt in to a bowl and rub in the fat. Add the sugar if using and the fruit and stir well.
2) Add the beaten egg and milk and mix to a soft dough
3) Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 3/4 " thickness. Either cut out with pastry cutters or leave in a large round and indent sections with a knife.
4) In either case place the scones onto a greased baking sheet and bake towards the top of the oven for 10-15 minutes at 450 degrees. As oven temperatures vary I would check after 8 minutes!

Recipe for Flapjack

Artistically displayed English flapjack!

Spring Break starts today so I have time to make real food for children 1, 2 and 3 AND to do something I LOVE!! I get to bake!! Baking runs in my family. My Great Grandfather was a baker in the trenches of France in the First World War. My Grandmother was an exceptional baker and my Mum is also a whizz in the kitchen.

I never said I was a great baker - but I really do like it and making family recipes and traditional English cakes and breads is one more link with the mother country.

I don't think I'm giving away any major family secrets by posting these recipes here!

Flapjack

4 oz rolled oats
2 oz butter or margarine
4 oz syrup*
2 oz soft brown sugar

* Syrup can be bought at a good grocery store (Here in Texas HEB has it!). It is in a squishy plastic bottle and its official name is Lyle's Golden Syrup. It can be found either with the baking stuff, the molasses/waffle syrup or the jellies!

1) Melt the fat in a pan
2) Add the sugar and syrup
3) Warm (but don't let it boil) 'til sugar melts
4) Stir in the oats
5) Press into a well greased tin forming a layer 1/4 " thick
6) Bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees
7) Leave for 10 minutes to cool and then cut into squares or fingers while still warm. Leave until nearly cold before removing from the pan.

My kiddoes love flapjack when it is really chewy and hard around the edges - if that sounds good to you then let the flapjack cook for another 5-10 minutes in addition to the 30. The house smells soooo good while this is cooking!

Pancake Day

Today in the life of our local church we are celebrating Fat Tuesday. We will have a community gathering and eat real American pancakes with sausage and syrup. The proceeds will go to a good cause, I won't have to think of something for supper that will please all five people in my family and a good time will be had by all!

In England, a little less imaginatively, they/we are celebrating Pancake Day! Today is Shrove Tuesday - not a name you hear often around these parts! it seems to me that Fat/Shrove Tuesday and Pancake day are pretty much the same thing just celebrated a bit differently. No cheap shots please from my overseas friends about the use of the word "Fat" on this side of the Atlantic :)

Both terms describe the day before the start of Lent, a day of releasing high spirits and using up rich foods before the sombre time of denial and reflection. The word "Shrove" is the past participle of "Shrive" - or obtaining absolution for sins by way of confession and penance. I love these archaic English terms!

In England today in addition to the consumption of wafer thin pancakes with lemon juice and sugar, all sorts of traditions are taking place. As part of the community celebrations there may be a "mob football" game, a tradition dating back to at least the 12th century if not earlier where teams from different villages would play this somewhat violent game as part of the festivities or there may be a pancake race! Pancake races are terrific fun! The story goes that a housewife was so busy making her pancakes that she forgot the time. When she heard the church bells ringing to call her to Shrove Tuesday service she dashed out of the house still flipping her pancakes in the pan!

Vive la difference!

So before we enter our time of reflection and denial here's a moment of levity

What did the young pancake say to the old burnt pancake?

"I don't like your flip side"!!! GROAN!!!!!

Here, courtesy of Emma Bridgewater is a lovely recipe for English pancakes!

Ingredients
1 Cup plain Flour, 3 eggs, 2 Cups milk, 2 Tablespoons melted butter, 1 Tablespoon of sugar, 1 Pinch of salt

Method~Sift the flour and salt in a bowl and add the sugar
Make a well in the flour, stir in eggs and milk (beaten well together) and the melted butter, whisking it into a cream thick batter Leave it in the fridge for an hour to stand if possible
~Heat a thick frying pan and coat with oil. Pour in less mixture than you think and tip the pan about until the batter covers the base the thinner the pancake the better
~As soon as it has crisped underneath FLIP with a confident gesture and cook the other side
~To avoid screaming make the first few before you admit they are ready then the wait for the first pancakes is shorter
~Keep eating them till the batter is gone

Happy Pancake Tuesday!